He faces two counts each of second-degree murder and manslaughter because the state's attorney office had two theories on how the child died. He also was charged with first- and second-degree assault and child abuse, according to the indictment. Flakes was being held without bail at the detention center.

Carroll County State's Attorney Jerry F. Barnes declined to reveal Mikayla's cause of death yesterday, but said the state medical examiner's office found evidence of homicide.

Flakes told police that he was caring for his girlfriend's four children at their home in the 100 block of Bond St. on Nov. 26 when he discovered that Mikayla had vomited in her crib and was unresponsive. Flakes ran next door carrying the toddler and told a neighbor to call 911 because he did not have a telephone, police said.

Mikayla was taken to Carroll Hospital Center, where she was pronounced dead early Thanksgiving morning.

Investigators, who interviewed Mikayla's three older siblings, said they believed that Flakes had beaten two of the children.

Police said Flakes was baby-sitting Mikayla and her siblings - a 10-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl - while their mother went to work that evening.

Barnes would not comment on the status of the other three children.

The death of the toddler was one of two confirmed homicides in Carroll County last year. The other was that of 30-year-old Richard Paul Atkins, whose body was found Dec. 29 in his Westminster apartment in the 100 block of E. Main Street.

Godfrey G. Miller III, 19, of Westminster was arrested Jan. 9 and charged with Atkins' death. Police said Atkins was the apparent target of a robbery.